Letena Ethiopian Restaurant

Great service and food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Will return! So good and the service was great. Updated from previous review on 2026-01-22

Delicious food and a very sweet and gracious server all made for a very enjoyable night out with family.

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant is our go-to spot for Ethiopian cuisine in DC and never disappoints. We recently went with friends who also love Ethiopian food, and as always, the experience was outstanding. The service was excellent—warm, attentive, and welcoming. We enjoyed a bottle of their honey wine, which was fantastic, and the veggie combo and tibs were absolutely delicious and full of flavor. From the ambiance to the food and service, everything is consistently great. Letena truly is our favorite; we can always count on for an amazing Ethiopian dining experience. Highly recommend! Thank you Dula and the amazing staff.

One of the party does not do spicy food, and waitress was very helpful in suggesting an appropriate dish. The other two enjoyed a shared platter. The injera was cold, like it had been in the refrigerator. Other places I've eaten at it has been warm or room temp, found that surprising. We had a time constraints and they accommodated well. With two different people coming to check on what else we wanted to order, one of the drinks never made it, however it was on the bill. The waitress adjusted the bill.

Lovely space, welcoming staff, delicious food, reasonable prices. I'm glad I gave Letena a try, as it will be a new favorite.

Got food poisoning from this restaurant on October 17, 2025. Will never eat there again

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Very good and authentic Ethiopian food. Service is excellent, friendly and professional. The Sampler for 2 is great and good value. We love this place.

I judge all Ethiopian restaurants against the legendary Meskerem (sadly, long gone), and most places fall short. So I was delighted to discover Letena! We had their delicious vegetarian messob sampler platter (they happily made a substitution of one of the included dishes for us) and the lentil sambosas. I had the Tej honey wine, because, hey, we’re having Ethiopian food, and my husband had the Addis Manhattan; both were a great compliment to the food. The ambiance was chic but also felt authentic to culture. Would definitely come here again and again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was our first time trying Ethiopian cuisine, and the experience was simply wonderful. The variety, the flavors, the atmosphere, and the service — everything felt authentic yet modern and very welcoming.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, atmosphere and service. The chutney that comes with the Samosa is flavorful and delicious! Ask the kind waiter what’s in it and be surprised, I would have never guessed that ingredient!

The curries are all great, make sure you get the fried fish cubes! You will crave it days later!

Perfect spot to go to for dinner or lunch and on a date or with friends!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Cozy, homey food, well cooked. Lovely decoration and polite service. Food is on the spicy side, so be aware.

Excellent Ethiopian food, very friendly, nice atmosphere. Prices are fair. We’ve been coming here regularly for years. Food is flavorful and exciting, without the stomach ache you get at restaurants serving rich heavy food.

Kitfo, gomen, yemisir wot, any sample platter all great options.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A Hidden Gem Worth Discovering

We had never tried Ethiopian food before, and this place was a revelation. The dishes were deeply authentic, and to truly enjoy the meal, I had to learn to eat in the traditional Ethiopian style—which made the experience even more meaningful. Our waitress was incredibly helpful, offering tips and guidance that made us feel welcomed and engaged.

The atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve experienced—it felt like dining in a living museum, surrounded by culture and history. Every detail added to the sense of immersion. This isn’t just a great meal; it’s a journey into heritage and tradition. A must-visit for anyone seeking delicious food paired with a rich cultural experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Long time DC resident who has been to close to a dozen Ethiopian restaurants in the city, and this is our new favorite. We discovered Letena as it participates in the To Go Green DC program (takeout containers are cleaned and re-used, so no single use plastic), ordered takeout and it was excellent - we especially liked the Yemisir Wot, Kit Wot, Gomen, and Chef’s Signature Tibs. We are looking forward returning to dine in person.

Food: 5